Collapsible swift

ABSTRACT

The invention contemplates an improved construction for a swift, being a frame used for the handling of yarn skeins, in the course of textile-yarn finishing. The new swift features radial collapsibility, from a resiliently preloaded or normal outer perimeter of yarn support, to a transiently retainable inner perimeter of yarn support, whereby the swift may be axially inserted within a tensed skein, and then released from its innerperimeter condition to immediately resiliently engage and support the skein at or near the outer-perimeter condition. Once thus engaged, the swift and skein may be readily handled, stored, and loaded into an unwinder, for development of yarn cones or tubes.

United States Patent Meadows et al.

1451 Aug. 13, 1974 COLLAPSIBLE SWIFT [75] Inventors: Ernest D. Meadows; Robert B.

Buffington, both of Atlanta, Ga. [73] Assignee: Meadows Industries Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

[22] Filed: Nov. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 308,737

[52] US. Cl. 242/110.1 [51] Int. Cl B65h 75/24 [58] Field of Search 242/110l10.3, 242/115,127,128

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 30,064 9/1860 Hemminway 242/1101 1,494,725 5/1924 Watson et al..... 242/110 1,668,492 5/1928 Cowan, Jr 242/1 10.1 1,932,598 10/1933 Darrier 242/1101 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 27,374 9/1910 Great Britain 242/1101 46,063 8/1910 Germany 242/1101 453,790 12/1927 Germany 242/1101 479,983 2/1938 Great Britain 620,151 l/l927 France 242/1101 5 7 ABSTRACT The invention contemplates an improved construction for a swift, being a frame used for the handling of yarn skeins, in the course of textile-yarn finishing. The new swift features radial collapsibility, from a resiliently preloaded or normal outer perimeter of yarn support, to a transiently retainable inner perimeter of yarn support, whereby the swift may be axially inserted within a tensed skein, and then released from its innerperimeter condition to immediately resiliently engage and support the skein at or near the outer-perimeter condition. Once thus engaged, the swift and skein may be readily handled, stored, and loaded into an unwinder, for development of yarn cones or tubes.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 1 31974 sum 1 m 2 rmmcnwm w 3,829.036 SHE? 2 0f 2 COLLAPSIBLE SWIFT The invention relates to a yarn-handling device known as a swift, for the ready transfer of textile-yarn skeins from one to another operation in a textilefinishing mill. The invention will be particularly described in the context of skeins of synthetic yarn, such as continuous-filament nylon, which have been heat-set and which are to be handled preparatory to cone or tube development of salable product.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved device of the character indicated.

Another object is to provide a swift that is more readily loaded and handled than heretofore.

A further object is to meet the above objects with a construction inherently capable of handling larger loads of continuous-filament yarn, thus enabling yarn production with fewer knots or splices.

A still further object is to provide a swift construction of the character indicated, enabling substantial economy of labor in use thereof.

A general object is to meet the above objects with a construction featuring simplicity, ruggedness and ready manipulability, as for example with one hand at a time, using women operators.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible swift of the invention, shown in radially extended position, to define a maximum perimeter of yarn support;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, for collapsed condition of the swift;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken at the alignment 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective view of skeinsupporting means from which the swift of FIGS. 1 to 3 is loaded; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are similar end views of the swift, in collapsed and extended conditions, respectively, in the context of skein loading.

Briefly, in the preferred form shown, swift or yarnsupporting apparatus of the invention is rendered radially collapsible, by employing two relatively rotatable hub systems on the same shaft axis. Yarn-supporting arm systems are pivotally connected to one hub system at a first radial offset and at equal angular spacing about the shaft axis. The arm systems are also connected to the other hub system, in the same equal angularly spaced relation but at a different offset from the shaft axis and with a generally radially slidable connection, so that a limited arc of relative rotation of the hub systems determines a range of radial extension and contraction of the yarn-supporting outer ends of the arm systems. Resilient means reacting between relatively rotatable parts preloads the swift in the radially outward direction of arm extension.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a swift of the invention is seen to comprise a first or outer hub system 10, and a second or inner hub system 11, with central shaft means 12 pivotally relating the hub systems for partial rotation. Four yarn-supporting arm assemblies A-B-C- D are connected at equal angular spacings to the respective hub systems, in such manner as to determine 10 journaled support of the swift in an unwinding machine, as will later be explained. The inner hub system 11 comprises two circular hub plates 15 freely rotatable on shaft 12 and held in rigid spaced-apart relation by plural spacer bars 16. Bars 16 also serve as the pivot connections for the radially inner ends of the spaced parallel arms 17 of each of the arm assemblies A-B-C- D. As best seen in FIG. 3, each end of each bar 16 is double-stepped, to define a first shoulder 18 and land 19 for pivotal connection of an arm 17, and to define a second shoulder 20 against which to secure plate 15, as by swedging suggested at 21. All four spacer bars 16 are at the same radial offset R from and parallel to the axis of shaft 12. In an analogous fashion, four further parallel spacer bars 22 rigidly connect outer ends of corresponding spider arms 14, at a different radial offset R from the axis of shaft 12; each end of each bar 22 also passes through a radial slot 23 in one of the arms 17, thus determining a generally radially extending slidable connection between spider arms 14 and their respective adjacent yarn-supporting arms 17.

Integrity of each of the yarn-supporting arm assemblies A-B-C-D is established by outer yarn-supporting spacer bars 24 near the radially outer ends of the respective arms 17. As shown, greater yarnaccommodating capacity is realized by connecting bars 24 to axially outwardly offset steps 17 of arms 17, and by axially outwardly flaring at 17" the radially outer end of each arm 17.

Assembly is completed by preloaded torsionally resilient means such as coil springs 25-25 in end-to-end array along the shaft 12. Collar and set-screw means 26 references adjacent ends of springs 2525 to shaft 12 and thus to the outer hub system 10; the outer axial ends of springs 2525' have radial arms 27 which are stressed for constant application of torque to one of the spacer bars 16, thus referencing torsional preload to the inner hub system 11. Preferably, the proportioning of described parts and their interconnection is such that the preload (in FIG. 1, the inner hub system is preloaded for rotation in the counterclockwise sense, with respect to the outer hub system 10) establishes interfer- I ence between spacers 22 and the radially inner limit of the corresponding slots 23, just prior to a deadcenter or purely radial alignment of the yarnsupporting arms with the shaft axis, all as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6; this determines the R or extended radial position of the yarn-supporting spacers 24. Collapse of the swift is accomplished upon clockwise rotation of the inner hub system 11, against spring reaction and until adjacent arms 17 interfere, as shown at 28 in FIG. 2; this determines the R or retracted radial position of the yarn-supporting spacers 24.

Use and operation of our new swift will be better understood in the context of a swift loader 30, shown somewhat schematically in FIG. 4. Generally, the loader 30 comprises an upstanding front panel 31, from which four parallel pairs of yarn-supporting cantilevered rods or bars 32-33 project horizontally forward, at each of four stations A-B-C -D about a central axis 34; rods 32-33 of each pair are spaced by an amount exceeding the lateral width W of the arm ends 17". Each pair of rods is carried by a radial slide 35, the respective guide axes being designated A-B-C-D" along heavy dot-dash radial alignments. Coordinated radially inward and outward positioning of stations A- B-C'-D is accomplished by a rotary face plate (suggested at 36) having like spiral cam segments unique to each station (as suggested at 37, for the cam follower 38 on slide 35, at station D), plate 36 being rotatable about axis 34, as determined by a reciprocating-drive connection 39 to double-acting fluid-pressure operated means 40. Reciprocated 90 drive of plate 36 will be understood to impart coordinated drive of the arm pairs 32-33 between minimum and maximum radii (R to R,,,,,, with respect to the central axis 34. Control for in-out actuation of the slide systems is governed by push buttons at 41, having appropriate legends; and spacer bars 42, forwardly offset from and extending across panel 31, serve to keep yarn from fouling the moving parts, as will be understood.

In use, a yarn skein of continuous-filament synthetic such as nylon will be in lacet condition upon removal a reeling machine, the skein circumference being in the general range of 72 to 94 inches. Processing of the laced skein may include steam tumbling, and then heatsetting in an autoclave. The skein is then draped circumferentially around the rods 32-33 of the four swift-loading stations A-B-C-D', the latter having been first actuated to their respective R positions. Actuation of the out" control at 41 drives all rods 32-33 into tensed support of the skein, in readiness for yarn transfer to the swift of the invention. To make the transfer, the operator grasps the swift by one of the yarn-supporting spacers 24, and allows the assembly to hang as she lowers the assembly to the floor, whereupon, without removing her grip, she drives spacer 24 downward until the interference develops at 28, at which time it is a simple matter to extend fingers of the same hand to simultaneously grasp the adjacent spacer 22, so that the collapsed condition is retained by the squeezed grip of the two adjacent spacers 22-24. Upon then lifting the collapsed assembly and transfering grip to the other hand, squeezing two adjacent arms 14-17, the collapsed condition is retained while axially inserting the swift within the skein 45, with arms 17 passing between adjacent support rods 32-33, as shown in FIG. 5. Axial insertion is complete when the swift abuts bars 42, and the hand grip may be relaxed, allowing the yarn-supporting spacers 24 to outwardly displace into resiliently loaded engagement with yarn of the skein, as shown in HO. 6. Preferably, dimensioning of the swift is chosen to assure tensed retention of the skein 45 at an outwardly displaced swift condition short of placing spacers at radius R as suggested by the adoption of legend R, in FIG. 6.

The swift will now be fully loaded and selfsupporting, by and within the skein 45. It may be readily removed upon actuation of the in" control at 41, as for storage withother loaded swifts, in readiness for unwinding to serve customer requircmenets for cone or tube winding, as the case may be. In such unwinding, the axially outwardly projecting ends of shaft 12 provide a simple means of rotary support, in swift-creel bearings, so that the swift becomes a pay-out reel for the final cone or tube winding operation, after having been unlaced.

It will be seen that the described invention meets all stated objects. In particular, the swift is relatively light to handle, and is collapsible in a simple one-handed manipulation wherein weight of the swift actually aids the collapse. Once loaded to a skein, the preloaded parts maintain a relatively soft tension in the yarn, until the very end of the unreeling operation, thus avoiding the snagging or tangling which can result from handling slack yarn. The swift represents a simplification of labor operation and equipment needed to bring a skein from its laced condition and into unwinding readiness. The swift of the invention enables substantially larger skeins to be handled than heretofore, thus eliminating or reducing the need for or number of knots or splices. In practice, it is found that two operators can perform the described operation, from applying skeins to the swift loader of FIG. 4, to placing the loaded swift onto special dollies for transfer to an unwinding machine, at the hitherto unheard-of rate of five per minute, for 8- pound skeins of heat-set yarn.

While the invention has been described in detail for the preferred form shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. Yarn-supporting apparatus, comprising a first structural assembly including two like spider elements having like pluralities of like generally radially extending arms at equal angular spacings, central shaft means rigidly connecting said elements to axially spaced locations and with the arms of both spider elements in angular registry; a second structural assembly including two hub elements pivotally supported by said shaft means and between said spider elements, and a plurality of like yarn-supporting radially outward arm assemblies pivotally connected to said hub elements at like first radial offsets from the central axis of said shaft means and generally radially slidably connected to the respective arms of said spider elements, the radial offset of such slidable connections being at all times greater than said first radial offsets, the number of arm assemblies corresponding to the number of arms of each spider element, and said arm-pivot connections being at the same angular spacing as that of the spiderelement arms, whereby partial relative rotation of said first and second assemblies is accompanied by displacement of the outer ends of said arm assemblies between radially inner and outer positions thereof; stop means coacting between at least two of said connected assemblies to limit outward displacement of the outer ends of said arm assemblies, said stop means being thus operative as each of said slidable connections is in approach to but is offset from radial dead-center alignment of said shaft means with the outer end of the corresponding arm assembly, and preloaded spring means reacting 4. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 1, in which each arm assembly comprises two axially spaced parallel arms pivotally connected at their radially inner ends to said hub structure, and a rigid axially extending yarn-supporting bar connecting radially outer end parts of said parallel arms.

5. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 4, in which said arms are radially slotted at the region of said slidable connections, said slidable connections comprising a rigid tie bar connecting each of the corresponding spider arms, each tie bar passing through adjacent slotted regions of the corresponding arm assembly.

6. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 4, in which said hub assembly comprises axially spaced hub plates and axially extending tie rods rigidly connecting said hub plates and positioning the same adja cent said spider elements, said tie rods passing through the radially inner ends of said parallel arms and serving as the pivotal connections thereof to said hub structure.

7. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said stop means is defined by the radially inner limit of each slot being so positioned along the radial extent of said parallel arms as to interfere with said tie bar to determine a maximum radially outward positioning of said yarn-supporting bars for an angular positioning of said hub structure short of dead-center radial alignment of said parallel arms with the axis of said shaft means.

8. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said preloaded spring means reacts between relatively pivotable parts connected by said shaft means and in the direction to preload said interference.

9. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 8, in which said spring means is a coil around said shaft means, with one end of said coil being in torsionally preloaded relation to said first structural assembly and the other end of said coil being in torsionally preloaded relation to said second structural assembly.

10. Yarn-supporting apparatus, comprising a first assembly of two shaft-connected and axially spaced first plate elements each having four pivot-connection openings at a first radius and at equal angular spacings about the shaft axis, said shaft connections fixing the pivot-connection openings of said first plate elements in angular registry; a second assembly of two fixedly connected and axially spaced second plate elements between said first plate elements and pivotable on the shaft axis, each of said second plate elements having four pivot-connection openings at a second radius and at equal angularly registered spacings about the shaft axis, one of said radii being substantially less than the other of said radii; four arm assemblies each comprising two axially spaced parallel arms pivotally connected at their radially inner ends at corresponding pivot-connection openings of the respective plate elements characterized by said one radius; a rigid tie bar connecting the remaining plate elements at corresponding pivot-connection openings of the other radius, said arms being slotted with one of said tie bars in the slotted regions of both parallel arms of the associated arm assembly, each said arm assembly including a further tie-bar connection of said parallel arms at a location radially outward of the slotted region thereof; preloaded spring means reacting between said first and second assemblies to urge the same pivotally in the direction of radially outward projection of said arm assemblies; the radially inner ends of the slotted regions being so positioned in relation to the difference between said radii that at least one of said first-mentioned tie bars interferes with the inner end of the associated slotted region for an angular positioning of said first and second assemblies short of dead-center alignment of said parallel arms with the shaft axis, thereby defining an outer limit of such outward extension; whereby upon resting the end of one arm assembly on the floor, and upon pressing the further tie bar of the opposite arm assembly toward the floor. collapse of the apparatus against spring-preloading force is aided by the weight of the apparatus. and the collapsed condition of the apparatus may be retained by one-hand grasp of the then-adjacent tie bars of said opposite arm assembly. 

1. Yarn-supporting apparatus, comprising a first structural assembly including two like spider elements having like pluralities of like generally radially extending arms at equal angular spacings, central shaft means rigidly connecting said elements to axially spaced locations and with the arms of both spider elements in angular registry; a second structural assembly including two hub elements pivotally supported by said shaft means and between said spider elements; and a plurality of like yarn-supporting radially outward arm assemblies pivotally connected to said hub elements at like first radial offsets from the central axis of said shaft means and generally radially slidably connected to the respective arms of said spider elements, the radial offset of such slidable connections being at all times greater than said first radial offsets, the number of arm assemblies corresponding to the number of arms of each spider element, and said arm-pivot connections being at the same angular spacing as that of the spider-element arms, whereby partial relative rotation of said first and second assemblies is accompanied by displacement of the outer ends of said arm assemblies between radially inner and outer positions thereof; stop means coacting between at least two of said connected assemblies to limit outward displacement of the outer ends of said arm assemblies, said stop means being thus operative as each of said slidable connections is in approach to but is offset from radial ''''dead-center'''' alignment of said shaft means with the outer end of the corresponding arm assembly, and preloaded spring means reacting between at least two of said connected assemblies to urge said arm assemblies in the direction of stop-means limitation.
 2. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 1, in which said shaft means projects axially beyond both said spider elements at each of the axial ends of said shaft means.
 3. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 1, in which the number of arms of each spider element is four.
 4. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 1, in which each arm assembly comprises two axially spaced parallel arms pivotally connected at their radially inner ends to said hub structure, and a rigid axially extending yarn-supporting bar connecting radially outer end parts of said parallel arms.
 5. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 4, in which said arms are radially slotted at the region of said slidable connections, said slidable connections comprising a rigid tie bar conneCting each of the corresponding spider arms, each tie bar passing through adjacent slotted regions of the corresponding arm assembly.
 6. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 4, in which said hub assembly comprises axially spaced hub plates and axially extending tie rods rigidly connecting said hub plates and positioning the same adjacent said spider elements, said tie rods passing through the radially inner ends of said parallel arms and serving as the pivotal connections thereof to said hub structure.
 7. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said stop means is defined by the radially inner limit of each slot being so positioned along the radial extent of said parallel arms as to interfere with said tie bar to determine a maximum radially outward positioning of said yarn-supporting bars for an angular positioning of said hub structure short of dead-center radial alignment of said parallel arms with the axis of said shaft means.
 8. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said preloaded spring means reacts between relatively pivotable parts connected by said shaft means and in the direction to preload said interference.
 9. Yarn-supporting apparatus according to claim 8, in which said spring means is a coil around said shaft means, with one end of said coil being in torsionally preloaded relation to said first structural assembly and the other end of said coil being in torsionally preloaded relation to said second structural assembly.
 10. Yarn-supporting apparatus, comprising a first assembly of two shaft-connected and axially spaced first plate elements each having four pivot-connection openings at a first radius and at equal angular spacings about the shaft axis, said shaft connections fixing the pivot-connection openings of said first plate elements in angular registry; a second assembly of two fixedly connected and axially spaced second plate elements between said first plate elements and pivotable on the shaft axis, each of said second plate elements having four pivot-connection openings at a second radius and at equal angularly registered spacings about the shaft axis, one of said radii being substantially less than the other of said radii; four arm assemblies each comprising two axially spaced parallel arms pivotally connected at their radially inner ends at corresponding pivot-connection openings of the respective plate elements characterized by said one radius; a rigid tie bar connecting the remaining plate elements at corresponding pivot-connection openings of the other radius, said arms being slotted with one of said tie bars in the slotted regions of both parallel arms of the associated arm assembly, each said arm assembly including a further tie-bar connection of said parallel arms at a location radially outward of the slotted region thereof; preloaded spring means reacting between said first and second assemblies to urge the same pivotally in the direction of radially outward projection of said arm assemblies; the radially inner ends of the slotted regions being so positioned in relation to the difference between said radii that at least one of said first-mentioned tie bars interferes with the inner end of the associated slotted region for an angular positioning of said first and second assemblies short of dead-center alignment of said parallel arms with the shaft axis, thereby defining an outer limit of such outward extension; whereby upon resting the end of one arm assembly on the floor, and upon pressing the further tie bar of the opposite arm assembly toward the floor, collapse of the apparatus against spring-preloading force is aided by the weight of the apparatus, and the collapsed condition of the apparatus may be retained by one-hand grasp of the then-adjacent tie bars of said opposite arm assembly. 